Love him, hate him, Michael Carrick has divided supporter opinion like few other modern Manchester United players. Superb during his début season with the club, only to suffer an 18 month slump after the 2009 Champions League final. But the Wallsend-born midfielder has returned to form with gusto this season… (right-click ‘open in new tab’ for the full size image)
Michael Carrick: a season in numbers
(86 posts) (15 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Charmingman93
Member
Posted by unregistered user: Charmingman93What was that about passing backwards too much? Yeah thought so… Carrick is going to be remembered by those who love him as the most underrated United player of modern times. The haters will say he was a waste of money. I was sceptical at first but I think he’s proven himself this season and at his first season.
Is it me or is he very, VERY unconfident about his shooting skills, his shot against QPR almost went in and it was outside the area. Given some practice he could do wonders with that shot of his!
Posted 1 year ago # -
DeadRevel
Member Posted by unregistered user: DeadRevelDid you see the one against Aston Villa? Beautifully jinked past 2 defenders, only to pass in the area when he probably would have scored… lack of confidence or just very humble…? Likely a bit of both.
He has been fantastic this season.
Posted 1 year ago # -
chocolatteballs
Member
A symbol of mediocrity that we now are.
He's brilliant if our ambition is to bruise our way to a title in a rapidly declining premiership every year but he is horribly exposed in Europe and indeed against competent passing teams in general and that seems to not matter to most or even seem relevant at all.
He should be selected for premiership games only where he is comfortably adequate and not particularly needed to do anything he can't like keep the ball under pressure and still pass it forward ,or, pass to a teammate and move towards said teammate to give them an option to pass back to him.
An honest modest lad but he's not what we need at all and deep down we actually know it.The real troubles in life are apt to the things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle tuesday.Posted 1 year ago # -
David
Member Posted by unregistered user: DavidI gotta say you are so way off the mark here it’s actually baffling. Carrick is more suited to European football than he is Premier League football, he’d very well be better suited for Serie A and La Liga than the league he plays in. He’s a very ‘European’ kind of player, that’s exactly the reason why he’s so underappreciated in England.
Carrick can struggle with high-tempo pressing as is evident from the kind of mistakes he makes, as few as he makes. You get more of that in the Premier League than any other top league or competition, it’s actually a major feature for English players and managers who instruct them, and it’s a distinctly different situation in mainland Europe, Germany aside.
You’re right about the kind of passes and options he doesn’t take up, especially in the attacking third. But he’s not a link man at all, and he has more defensive responsibility than our other midfielders which means he has to be very careful in the moments he chooses to step up the pitch and make runs.
Not being funny here or trying to be a cunt, but I don’t think you fully get the role and position he plays.
He’s a very Busquets kind of player. Busquets is obviously better, in fact he’s the best, but don’t forget, he has Xavi and Iniesta in front of him in a midfield three and their movement is also the best you’ll see. Carrick’s actually a much more complete player, who believe it or not is more creative and has more to offer in attack even though he is quite rigid in style. His stats, (yes they do matter and give you another perspective that you can’t full glean from purely watching the game) are always very impressive and he plays in a midfield two with, Scholes aside, inferior players with inferior movement to what you see at Barca, so his options are much more limited which only enhances his stats. So when he doesn’t play a pass forward, it’s not always because he can’t, sometimes the movement ahead is poor or it’s too risky and with that defensive reponsibility I mentioned he has, risks are not something he, or any defensively responsible player does too often.
Sorry for the length of that!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just1n
Member
^^^Good post.
I dont have a problem with Carrick. He needs a proper destroyer next to him. He was ace at Spurs when he played alongside Davids.
You must ignore Knobby. He likes his players to bleed like Butcher did back in the day. You know - proper hard men with balls bollox.
Posted 1 year ago # -
One of the key points David makes is about the poorness of the movement ahead of Carrick. When we had GolfTroll, Ronaldo, and Rooney in the side ahead of Carrick our movement was utterly first rate and baffled defences.
Right now, United are exceptionally predictable. Our left wingers come inside, Evra overlaps. Rooney drops deep, and tends to try and pick up the ball somewhere between the midfield and the defence - but his form has been so terrible in many games this season his first touch lets him down, or he hits a terrible shot, etc. On the right hand side, the right back offers an inside ball to Valencia, who typically looks to go outside and supply a cross. If Hernandez is playing, the ball over the top is an option. If Welbeck plays, the long ball and second phase play is on.
Predictable, and easy to counter if you're organised and disciplined. Blackburn did it for a good 80 minutes before they visibly tired and succumbed to a moment of genius from Valencia.
Better sides - typically those in Europe - require a little something else, something we don't have the attackers to provide. Blaming Carrick is all well and good but the fact is, if he doesn't have a compelling option to play the ball to, all he can do is provide the ball to one of our attackers and see what happens.
Carrick does get overrun, but typically that is where (a) the opposition plays three men in the middle, (b) the opposition deliberately presses all over the park, and (c) where Carrick has been team with one of Giggs, Park, et al (i.e. not Scholesy). Not many midfielders can cope with sustained pressure from the opposition with a partner who isn't doing much running, or is technically so bad with first touch etc any second ball in the midfield isn't swept up easily.
I would challenge anyone to suggest midfielders who play in a two in midfield who don't and can't get overrun when playing against 3.
Where I think Carrick brings real value is his ability to win the ball on his feet and distribute it quickly. All these "blaaaaahd and thundddaaah" midfielders who go to ground at the slightest scent of the ball, or who run around clattering people are liabilities in the modern game, especially in Europe. There is no value in having a player win the ball on the floor, then take further time to get up, and then play the ball. You've probably already lost an element of momentum in the time they take to get up and then start to play the ball. Carrick also has excellent positioning, allowing our fullbacks to get forward. The number of interceptions is also testament to that. Carrick will often drop ever so slightly off while we have possession, and if we lose it his first move is usually to drop into one of the flanks to cover a forward fullback.
You can say what you like about him getting pounded by teams like Barcelona, and lately Athletic Bilbao - but, firstly, how many players DON'T get shown up by Barcelona, and secondly who DID actually play well against Bilbao, or Wigan for that matter?
Posted 1 year ago # -
chocolatteballs
Member Commenter said:
“He’s brilliant if our ambition is to bruise our way to a title ”I think most people would have discounted your entire post after the first sentence. Possibly the most misinformed comment I’ve ever read on Rant. Congrats.
I'm sure there are alot of people who discount your opinion altogether.
Some might say that this year we are stumbling our way , many others that we are flukeing and diving our way.
Your use of the word misinformed is as unfortunate as your actual comment which you haven't even bothered to explain or justify.And when people say that Carrick IS a European player despite a titanic of games to choose from in Europe where he's ACTUALLY played in in the last 4 year's that clearly ....clearly ... prove otherwise, always just baffles me.
He's not this or that kind of player , or he needs a better player playing beside him etc etc .
These are excuses. He',s reached his peak and that peak isn't quite good enough for where we should be.... not where we actually' are' as a team.
Posted 1 year ago # -
chocolatteballs
Member Commenter said:
“He’s brilliant if our ambition is to bruise our way to a title ”
I think most people would have discounted your entire post after the first sentence. Possibly the most misinformed comment I’ve ever read on Rant. Congrats.Commenter said:
“He’s brilliant if our ambition is to bruise our way to a title ”
I think most people would have discounted your entire post after the first sentence. Possibly the most misinformed comment I’ve ever read on Rant. Congrats.I’m sure there are alot of people who discount your opinion altogether.
Some might say that this year we are stumbling our way , many others that we are flukeing and diving our way.
Your use of the word misinformed is as unfortunate as your actual comment which you haven’t even bothered to explain or justify.
And when people say that Carrick IS a European player despite a titanic of games to choose from in Europe where he’s ACTUALLY played in in the last 4 year’s that clearly ….clearly … prove otherwise, always just baffles me.
He’s not this or that kind of player , or he needs a better player playing beside him etc etc .
These are excuses. He’,s reached his peak and that peak isn’t quite good enough for where we should be…. not where we actually’ are’ as a team.The real troubles in life are apt to the things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle tuesday.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Charmingman93
Member Posted by unregistered user: Charmingman93I think its very well justified to say a player needs the right partner to play well. Sometimes another players style doesn’t blend well with another, or one player is in such bad form the two just cancel each other out. Carrick IS the type of player that needs the right person to play with him.
Posted 1 year ago # -
chocolatteballs
Member Commenter said:
I think its very well justified to say a player needs the right partner to play well. Sometimes another players style doesn’t blend well with another, or one player is in such bad form the two just cancel each other out. Carrick IS the type of player that needs the right person to play with him.Yea but Gareth Barry needs the right player to play with him ie somone much better than him to disguise the fact that he's not good enough.
When you take Carrick or Barry or Parker or whoever outside of the comfort of the premier league you get a pretty accurate picture of how good they actually are.
Were one of the biggest clubs in the world and we could very well end up with Carrick and Cleverly pulling the strings in midfield next year .
Shoot me now.Posted 1 year ago # -
Dean
Member Posted by unregistered user: DeanEven though Carrick didn’t have a good Premier League last year, I feel he was one of the reasons we did so well in The Champions League… his performance against Chelsea was right up there. I was one of the people who ripped him for his performance last year, but credit where credit it due. Fantastic season this year, and I can tell he’s enjoying playing which is wonderful to see.
Posted 1 year ago # -
chocolatteballs
Member Commenter said:
Even though Carrick didn’t have a good Premier League last year, I feel he was one of the reasons we did so well in The Champions League… his performance against Chelsea was right up there. I was one of the people who ripped him for his performance last year, but credit where credit it due. Fantastic season this year, and I can tell he’s enjoying playing which is wonderful to see.Not gonna drag this one out, as it'd done to death ny now but he indeed had two great games against Chelsea in the Champions league last season .
But people make way too much of these two games.
Firstly Chelsea arnt they team they were and secondly, Chelsea are a Premiership team not Spanish , German or Portuguese team that we cant often even match in midfield.
He (Carrick) soon reverted back to type against Barcelona and practically every team we have played that have anything resembling decent, skillfull technical players who won't just donate time on the ball.
In these games Carrick ie as usefull as a straw in the desert, he just can't offer us anything in fact he's appalling in every aspect of his game.
But it's always the same story. It's the managers fault, he has the wrong player playing off him, wrong formation, he's told to play that way.
He or his limitations are never the problem.
We need much better.Posted 1 year ago # -
thebigman
Member Posted by unregistered user: thebigmanOf course he understands the role he is supposed to play, you will be well suited to bobby zamora, people don’t understand my role. They do he’s just shit at it, as is carrick.
He’s so suited to Europe that we went out in the group stage and embarrassed ourselves further in the Europa league.
He can’t dictate tempo or break up play, he is completely mediocre and shouldn’t be more than a squad player, where would he compare to Keane or Viera?
Posted 1 year ago # -
dozer
Member
chocolatteballs said:
Not gonna drag this one out, as it'd done to death ny now but he indeed had two great games against Chelsea in the Champions league last season .
But people make way too much of these two games.
Firstly Chelsea arnt they team they were and secondly, Chelsea are a Premiership team not Spanish , German or Portuguese team that we cant often even match in midfield.
He (Carrick) soon reverted back to type against Barcelona and practically every team we have played that have anything resembling decent, skillfull technical players who won't just donate time on the ball.
In these games Carrick ie as usefull as a straw in the desert, he just can't offer us anything in fact he's appalling in every aspect of his game.
But it's always the same story. It's the managers fault, he has the wrong player playing off him, wrong formation, he's told to play that way.
He or his limitations are never the problem.
We need much better.I see the point you're trying to make but I still think you're underrating him. Keane or Scholes he's not but how many better midfielders have we had? Keane and Scholes. That's it.
Who wasn't shite against Barca? But he didn't do too well yes.He's got his limitations yes, but there are very few midfield players better than him available. Toure was unaffordable. Xavi, Iniesta etc aren't available.
Until we get a Keane type player, we better be grateful for what we have. We'll be in trouble if he wanted to leave however unlikely that may be.Sir Ryan Giggs? No no no. Sir Paul Scholes say.Posted 1 year ago # -
David
Member Posted by unregistered user: DavidOkay, well we didn’t perform too well in Europe but let’s take our two worst results. The defeat to Basel and the home defeat to Ajax. Carrick didn’t play in either.
He was our best player in the 3-3 draw with Basel although the whole team had a very complacent night, he still was our best player and wasn’t “bad”.
And even if his performances against Bilbao, (the first he din’t start in) weren’t that good, they weren’t as bad as some of the others.
Even still I don’t know what your point is. You go on as if he is directly to blame. Do you also think the rest of the players aren’t good enough?
He may have got battered against Barca, LIKE EVERY SINGLE PLAYER WHO FACES THEM, JESUS CHRIST. But in both finals he wasn’t our worst midfielder, in fact he was the best (starter) in both finals, but of course, he takes the blame.
Where would he compare to Vieira and Scholes? Ugh where does anyone compare to those two? These are two of the greatest ever Premier League players and because someone doesn’t match up he’s shit, get real. I swear to god, the arguemnts against Carrick are truly pathetic and I can tell you nobody says that shit for other players, just Carrick and Evans, another fantastic performer this season.
In an arguement, the truth is generally somewhere in between both sides. And in Carrick’s case, those who slate him are much more in the wrong and his supporters are far closer to the truth. I also notice the majority of his haters have terrible arguements that look as though are written by a 13-year-old. And his supporters make actual sense an show a fairly acute understanding of the game most of the time.
I don’t know why I bother. He can’t win.
He’s a good passer = He only passes backwards
Here’s evidence that he doesn’t = Oh they’re easy passes
Most passes are easy = Oh it was shit oppositionThere’s always an excuse and it’s nearly always wrong and to be honest, nearly always frivolous bullcrap.
Posted 1 year ago # -
David
Member Posted by unregistered user: DavidAnd all of his supporters claim he’s a good player, maybe very good. Nobody is claiming he’s amazing, world class. But that’s not enough for all the idiots they’re no conten with that, the have to insist he’s a bad player, an average player.
Well I’m sorry, all the evidence is there to suggest he’s at least a good player and Fergie picks him all the time and his spell with the club is the most successful of the club’s entire history. Not saying he is the reason but as a member of the team, in midfield, a crucial area, he has most certainly played his part.
We see his qualities, his teammates see his qualities, Fergie sees his qualities.
Now isn’t it a little obvious that it’s YOU and all of Carrick’s detractors are the ones who are missing something?!
He might not be your kind of player, I’ll give you that, it’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. But your opinion is wrong.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator
Commenter said:
You just wasted your time writing that, because no-one will waste their time reading it.You're a bit of an asshole, aren't you?
"Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching' tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you."Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator My problem with Carrick really isn't Carricks fault... he is what he is... a good midfielder.
But he occupies one of the most important positions in a football team, and for a club of the stature and supposed ambition of Manchester United, he shouldn't be the best we can put out there.
Ever since Keane left, and Scholes started to show his years, we've been complaining about our poor midfield, and let's not forget that although Carrick is having a decent season, he was rubbish for 3 years.
There aren't many United fans that haven't been crying out for a top class midfield signing,(or 2) for years... why we haven't signed one is a mystery, and a different argument altogether, but the fact is, if we HAD signed such a player, then Carrick would have been relegated to the bench, and no one would be surprised.
A squaddie to back up a better player is exactly what Carrick is best suited to... or a starting place for a team like Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle... but we're SUPPOSED to be aspiring to be the best in Europe/World... aren't we?
Our defence is going through transition, but is usually world class standard... Rio, Vidic, Stam, Bruce, Irwin... and we've had teams that could boast Rooney, van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Robson, Cantona, Giggs and Scholes in their prime, Roy Keane, Beckham, and many other Champions League class players... defend Carrick all you like... he is not of THAT standard... at least not consistently... and it always comes back to the question... why have we NOT improved our midfield for so many years... instead of just trying to get by with what we've got?
Carrick, Park, Fletcher, Anderson, Old Scholes, and even Gibson for a while... it's just NOT good enough.
Posted 1 year ago #
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